Returning to “normal” – whatever the term normal may entail or even mean anymore, people all around the globe are eagerly anticipating the end of the global pandemic. But our new idea of “normal” is seemingly juggling work and/or school from home.
A year after the Corona virus set off a social seismic disruption, most schools have decided to continue with virtual learning, and we believe this will continue to be the norm even after the pandemic subsides. Due to the pandemic, the school and education systems were forced to adapt and switch to virtual learning in a switch that felt like a temporary makeshift method of schooling at first. Globally, many countries have adopted this virtual approach towards education and learning; even going as far as ensuring their students have access to learning materials and the gadgets required.
A year later virtual education has presented new opportunities for not only teachers and students, but parents too. It has yielded benefits for everyone involved and even though the schools may reopen at some point in the near future, it will most likely be in combination with virtual learning in some way, shape or form due to versatility and flexibility it provides the students, teachers and parents.
Education researchers suggest that several hundred schools in the USA alone out of the 13,000 schools have established virtual schools in the last year with an eye to operate for years to come. And unlike other makeshift pandemic plans and programs, these stand alone, virtual learning and education programs have their own teachers and education plans and curriculums designed for online learning. The demand for virtual education and schools have soared in the last one year, and they could normalize remote learning for children that did not have access to those resources earlier. In addition, virtual and online learning allows children to learn at their own pace, without the pressures of public school.
Virtual learning requires children to mostly work independently through courses, supported and supplemented occasionally through virtual guidance and instructions from teachers. This self-directed approach has led to an increase in self-motivated students, all while having parents available to act as additional learning coaches; this method and style of teaching covers all the bases and makes for a well-rounded learning experience.
With teachers, parents and students getting accustomed to virtual learning, it is not a stretch to say that it will be prevalent in schooling and education going forward; whether it be front and center or integrated and incorporated into the prior existing system.
An alternate to traditional schooling has been the Homeschooling model, prevalent and growing in popularity across the globe; and more so in USA, Australia, Canada, Hungary, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Kenya, Russia, Mexico, United Kingdom.
Reasons and motivations for homeschooling
Young parents choose homeschooling for their children for a variety of reasons. The main motives are:
Academic Performance
Social, Emotional, and Psychological Development
And, most importantly, you don’t have to have an education degree or be a teacher to homeschool well. As the parent, you are the expert on what your child needs!
55% of parents today believe that digital schooling is conducive to their child’s style of learning. The Learning Time A+ Program has some of the best early learning materials for early childhood education. Check them out at www.learningtime.co